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2.0 AREA STUDIED 2.1 Scope of Study This Flood Insurance Study covers the incorporated area of the Town of Oak Creek, Colorado. The area of study is shown on the Vicinity Map (Figure 1). The area studied by detailed methods was selected based upon the extent and validity of available existing hydrologic and hydraulic data. Oak Creek was studied by detailed methods from a point approximately 200 feet upstream of Routt County Road 27 to a point approximately 1,900 feet upstream of Oak-Williams Street, a reach of approximately 0.9 mile. 2.2 Community Description The Town of Oak Creek is located in the northwestern portion of Colorado. Situated in Routt County, Oak Creek is located approximately 17 miles southwest of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. According to 1980 census data, Oak Creek has a population of 929 and in 1970 had a population of 492 (Reference 1). This is a 47 percent increase over a ten-year period. The coldest month and warmest mon.th of the year are January and July, respectively. The mean January temperature is 50F and the mean July temperature is 75'F. The mean annual precipitation is 19 inches, and the average annual snowfall is 100 inches. The topography consists mainly of valleys and lakes surrounded by forested lands and mountains. The residents in the Town of Oak Creek are employed primarily in the coal mining industry. 2.3 Principal Flood Problems It is known that significant flooding occurred in 1914, 1939, 1950, and 1984, as well as other years (Reference 2). The streamflow occurring during the May 1984 snowmelt flood was estimated by Dismuke and Dismuke Consultants, Inc., aC approximately 650 cubic feet per second (cfs) at County Route 27 (at che northern end of town). Local residents have indicated thaC the May 1984 flood was the "flood of record." Streamflows for the other flood events are not known. The recurrence interval for che 1984 flood is approximately a 4l-year flood event. "Typical" flooding along Oak Creek is caused by snowmelt runoff. However, aC frequencies as rare as the 100-year event, flooding can occur from rainfall runoff. A significant degree of overtopping would occur at each of the five road crossings during a lOO-year flood event. Culvert capacities are insufficient to pass che lOO-year flow in each case. Only minor blockage of the culverts was assumed at each creek crossing. Insufficient culvert capacity at the County Road 27 crossing would cause waCer 2